Envelope



F. L. JARVIS Dec. 13, 1938.

ENVELOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1 5, 1937 Fan/6 l. cfarz/L S,

F. L. JARVIS Dec. 13, 1938,

ENVELOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1957 Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNTE a! '1;

9 Claims.

My invention relates to envelopes employed for transmittingmail matter, and has more particular reference to novel and efficient means for closing a single-compartment envelope for use in trans- ;a, mitting the lower class of mail matter, or for closing the lower class mail compartment and sealing the first class mail compartment of a double-compartment envelope.

A more specific object of the present invention ilhl is to provide a means of the above kind that will allow ready inspection of the lower class mail matter, and which is devoid of metal-prong and string or other objectionable fasteners.

A further object of the present invention is to if: provide an envelope provided with means of the above kind and capable of ready and economical manufacture.

With the above objects in view, the present invention consists in the novel form, combination :,2() and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a double. 25 compartment envelope for transmission of both first class mail matter and lower class mail matter, and embodying closing and sealing means in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View of the enve- 30 lope shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure l with the parts disposed as in the initial step of closing and sealing the envelope.

- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the 35 parts disposed as in the second step of closing and sealing the envelope.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the parts disposed as in the third and final step of closing and sealing the envelope.

, 40 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the parts disposed as when th compartment for first class mail matter is sealed and the compartment for lower class mail matter is opened for inspection. ,45 Figure 7 is a longitudinal section on line l-l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a transverse section on line 88 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the blank from which 50 the envelope of Figures 1 to 6 inclusive is formed,

such blank being drawn on a reduced scale.

Figure 10 is a View on a reduced scale similar to Figure 1 illustrating a single compartment envelope adapted for transmitting the lower class of 65 mail matter and embodying" closing means con- -hered to the extension 1 along such edge.

structed in accordance with the. present invention; and

Figure 11 is a plan view of the blank from which the envelope of Figure 10 is formed.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the enve -g lope of Figures 1 to 8 inclusive is formed from a blank of the form shown in Figure 9 which consists of a single blank of paper or like material and includes a rectangular main portion a having substantially rectangular extensions 6 and l. 10 integral with the opposite sides thereof and adapted to be folded along crease or score lines 8 and 9 onto the main portion 5. The extension 1 is of substantially the same length. and width as the main portion 5, while the extension 15 6 is somewhat narrower and actually folded onto the extension 7. Also, the free longitudinal edge. of extension 6 is gummed as at lil so as to be ad- Thus, the extension 7 cooperates with the main portion.20 5 to form a larger compartment for reception of the lower class of mail matter, and extension is cooperates with extension l to form a smaller compartment for the reception of first class mail matter. Both of these compartments are closed .25 at the bottom by means of a gummed flap 5 l integral with the lower edge of the main portion 5 and folded onto and adhered to the adjacent lower ends of extensions 6 and 1.

Integral with the top of main portion 5 and extending the full width of the latter is a flap !2 having a central narrow extension l3 from the lower portion of which is struck a tongue M. The extension i3 of flap I2 is adapted to be folded along the line l5 coincident with the point of connection of tongue i i with said extension it.

Also integral with the top of side extension 5 is a flap Iii extending the full width of extension 7 and having a height twice that of flap l2. Flap it is adapted to be folded on a transverse line I! midway the top and bottom thereof, and formed centrally of the flap it on the upper edge of the latter is an extension is of segmental form. The upper portion of flap It is gumrned at opposite sides of extension it as indicated at E9, on the inner or rear face of said flap l6. Normally, the parts are disposed as shown in Figure 1 with both compartments of the envelope open at the top. After the desired mail matter has been inserted in the respective compartments, the. envelope may be closed by first folding the extension l6 of flap l6 forwardly and downwardly and then engaging tongue it over this downwardly folded extension l8 as shown in Figure 3. The extension it, together with the folded eX- .55

tension l8 and the upper half of flap [6 are then folded forwardly and downwardly along the line I! and a further fold line 28 at the point of connection between flap l2 and extension It, as illustrated in Figure 4. This positions the tongue I4 between the upper and lower portions of flap I6, and brings the gummed portions IQ of flap 16 at the front of the envelope as is also clearly shown in Figure 4. The parts are then folded again along the line It of extension l3 and the fold lines 2! and 22 provided at the points of connection of flaps I2 and H3 with portion 5 and extension 1, respectively. When this is done the envelope will be in the condition illustrated in Figure 5. By previously moistening the gummed portions 15, they are caused to adhere to the projections 6 and l at the top .of the envelope so as to effectively secure the parts in this folded condition and seal the small compartment for first class mail provided between the projections 6 and i. This small compartment is, of course, closed by the folded flap it which is securely fastened down in folded condition by the gummed 7 portions l9 adhered to the projections 8 and 7 at opposite sides of the extensions 53 and it. At the same time, the extension 53 is effectively locked in engagement with the flap it with the ily inspected. In thus withdrawing the extension 53, the tongue M will be curled so that when the folded portion of extension i3 is again inserted under the folded flap NS for reclosing the larger compartment for lower class mail, said tongue I 1 will set up sufficient friction between the folded flap l6 and the extension 5 as to prevent accidental pulling of the extension outwardly and opening of the larger compartment containing the lower class mail. The position of the parts with the smaller first class mail compartment closed and sealed and with the larger lower class mail compartment open for inspection is illustrated in Figure 6.

The form of envelope shown in Figure 10 and formed from the blank shown in Figure 11 is substantially the same as the embodiment illus-- trated in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, except that both side extensions 6a and la are narrower than the main portion 5a so that they overlap slightly intermediate the sides of the envelope when folded onto said main portion 5a, thereby providing an envelope having only a single compartment for the transmission of lower class mail matter. Also, the extension la has its free longitudinal edge gummed as at lea instead of having the free edge of extension ta gummed. In addition, the flap having extension 811 is formed in sections respectively at the top of extension 5a and 1a, the section on extension ta being provided with the extension lBa. This is preferred because neither extension 6a nor la is of a width equal to that of main portion 5a, and extension 6a is wider than extension la. Obviously, however, this arrangement may be reversed by simply making the wider extension the extension la and the narrower extension the extension Ga. In any case, the front of the compartment for lower class mail is provided at the top with a foldable flap corresponding to the flap [6 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, when the extensions 6a and la are folded onto the main portion 5a and adhesively joined by the gummed edge ltla. Otherwise, the construction of both forms is the same and remaining parts are similar and indicated by like reference characters in all views. 7

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and manner of use, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will be apparent that I have provided a very simple and efficient means for closing the compartment of an envelope adapted for reception of lower class mail matter and to also close and seal the compartment of a double compartment envelope adapted for reception of first class mail matter. No separate and objectionable fasteners, such as metal prong and string fasteners, are necessary, and while I have illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention, it is apparent that the invention is susceptible of minor changes and further modifications without departing from the spirit and, scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. An envelope having a compartment open along one edge of the envelope and including front and back portions, one of said portions having along such edge a closure flap provided with central extension, said extension having an inwardly extending tongue struck from the inner portion thereof, the other portion of the envelope having a flap along such edge extending beyond the outer marginal edge of the first-named flap and terminating at the base of the said tongue, an extension formed at the marginal edge of the second-named flap and centrally thereof, said last-named extension being adapted to fold upon the face of the said second-named flap, said tongue being adapted to overlap said secondnamed flap and said extension when the latter is in a folded position upon the face of said secondn amed extension for engaging said first-named extension with said second-named flap and its extension, and said second-named flap having gummed surfaces at opposite sides of its extension,'whereby the extension of the first-named closure flap may be folded with said flaps and with its inner portion looked under said flaps to releasably close the envelope with the gummed portions of the second-named flap adhered to its portion of the envelope, said extension of the first-named closure flap being of such length as to present a projecting free end when folded with the flaps adapted to be grasped for opening the envelope and permitting inspection of the contents of the envelope compartment.

2. An envelope formed from a blank including a main portion provided with substantially rectangular integral panels on opposite sides thereof, one of said panels substantially corresponding in size to the main portion and cooperating with the latter to form a compartment for lower class mail, the other panel being narrower and folded onto and adhered to the first-named panel to provide a second compartment for reception of first class mail, the main portion being provided at the top with a closure flap having a central extension, said extension having an inwardly projecting tongue struck from the inner portion thereof, the first-named panel having a closure flap extending beyond the outer marginal edge of the first-named flap and terminating at the base of said tongue, an extension formed at the marginal edge of the said second-named closure flap and centrally thereof, said last-named extension being adapted to fold upon the face of the said second-named closure flap, said tongue being adapted to overlap said second-named closure flap and said extension for engaging said firstnamed extension with said second-named closure flap and its extension, said second-named closure flap being gummed at the opposite sides of its said extension for adhering to the said firstnamed panel and the second-named panel for sealing the second compartment and for adapting the flap of the main portion of the envelope to temporarily close the first-named compartment when the flaps and extensions are twice folded together with the inner portion of the extension on the first-named closure flap looked under said second-named flap.

3. An envelope formed from a blank comprising a main portion, an extension substantially corresponding in size to the said main portion, another extension formed at the opposite side of said main portion, said extensions being adapted to fold upon said main portion and upon each other to provide in cooperation with the said main portion and with each other a pair of compartments, a flap upon said main portion, a flap upon the first-named of said extensions, the two flaps being adapted to fold, the last-named flap folding twice, when folded the first-named flap being adapted to maintain one of said compartments closed, means upon said secondnamed flap for positively engaging said firstnamed extension for maintaining the other of said compartments sealed, and disengageable means upon the first-named flap for normally engaging said second-named flap for normally preventing access to the first-named compartment, upon disengagement of said second-named means from said second-named flap the firstnamed flap being adapted to unfold independently of said second-named flap for providing access to the first-named compartment and without affecting the first-named means.

4. An envelope comprising a pair of compartments, a pair of flaps extending from one end of the envelope, means upon one of said flaps for positively engaging the body portion of the envelope for maintaining one of said compartments sealed, and disengageable means upon the other flap for normally engaging said first-named flap for normally preventing access to the other of said compartments, said second-named means being adapted to disengage from said firstnamed flap without affecting the engagement of said first-named flap with the body portion of the envelope for providing access to the secondnamed compartment.

5. An envelope comprising a pair of compartments, a pair of flaps extending from one end of the envelope, means for interengaging said flaps, said flaps while interengaged being adapted to fold upon the body portion of the envelope, one of said flaps folding twice, means upon the latter flap for sealing one of said compartments when said flaps remain folded upon the body portion of the envelope, the other compartment being adapted to remain closed by the other of said flaps while the latter remains in interengagement with the first-named flap and in a folded position upon the body portion of the envelope with the firstnamed flap, and means for disengaging said second-named flap from said first-named flap without affecting said sealing means for unfolding said second-named flap for providing access to the said second-named compartment.

6. An envelope comprising a pair of compartments, a pair of flaps extending from one end of the envelope, an extension upon one of said flaps, said flaps and said extension being adapted to fold one of said flaps folding twice, when in folded position said flaps overlie the body portion of the envelope, and when said flaps and said extension are in a folded position said extension being adapted to engage the other of said flaps, and sealing means upon said second-named flap for sealing one of said compartments when said flaps remain folded upon the body portion of the envelope, said sealing means upon .said secondnamed flap being out of alignment with said extension when said fiaps and said extension are in a folded position upon the body portion of the envelope and when said extension engages said second-named flap, the other of said compartments being adapted to remain closed by the first-named flap when its said extension remains in engagement with the second-named flap, said extension when in engagement with said secondnamed flap while the two flaps remain in a folded position upon the body portion of the envelope extending beyond the marginal edges of said flaps whereby said extension may be manually grasped for withdrawing the same from engagement with the second-named flap for unfolding said first-named flap from said second-named flap and without affecting the sealing means aforesaid for providing access to the secondnamed compartment.

7. An envelope comprising a pair of compartments, a pair of flaps extending from one end of the envelope, said flaps being adapted to fold one upon the other and upon the body portion of the envelope and when so folded each of said flaps being adapted to close one of said compartments, sealing means upon one of said flaps for sealing one of said compartments, and means upon the other of said flaps for releasably engaging the same with the first-named flap for alternately.

opening or closing the other of said compartments without affecting said sealing means.

8. An envelope comprising a pair of compartments, a pair of flaps extending from one end of the envelope, means upon one of said flaps for engaging the body portion of the envelope for maintaining one of said compartments positively closed, and disengageable means upon the other flap for normally engaging said first-named flap for normally preventing access to the other of said compartments, said second-named means being adapted to disengage from said first-named flap without affecting the engagement of said first-named fiap with the body portion of the envelope for providing access to the secondnamed compartment.

9. An envelope comprising a pair of compartments, a pair of flaps extending from one end of the envelope, means for engaging one of said flaps with the body portion of the envelope for maintaining one of said compartments positively closed, and disengageable means upon the other flap for normally engaging said first-named flap for normally preventing access to the other of said compartments, said second-named means being adapted to disengage from said first-named flap without affecting the engagement of said first-named flap with the body portion of the envelope for providing access to the second-named compartment.

FRANK L. JARVIS. 

